GRADES 9-12
AERODYNAMICS OF CYCLING

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Summary The bicycle has been around for a little more than a century. In that time, the general design of the bicycle has changed little from the safety bicycle. Still significant advances have decreased the aerodynamic drag a rider must overcome. While some of these ideas have been around as long as the bicycle, the proper materials to take advantage of the aerodynamic knowledge has only appeared recently. While it is obvious that the aerodynamic drag facing riders can be decreased by using the proper equipment and riding techniques, how does this translate to an advantage in a race. By reducing the drag by even 1%, a rider can possibly gain more than a five foot advantage per mile at 30 mph. However, this is only important in individual events. When riding in a pack, the advantages gained by drafting outweigh any advantage gained through the use of aerodynamic equipment.